Bury first stop for coach Gary

GARY Neville may not be in the frame to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson when the Manchester United boss finally calls it a day at Old Trafford. But don't rule out the possibility that one day the Reds and England defender could manage the club he's served as a player with such distinction.

GARY Neville may not be in the frame to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson when the Manchester United boss finally calls it a day at Old Trafford.

But don't rule out the possibility that one day the Reds and England defender could manage the club he's served as a player with such distinction.

And he could even start at the club where he is now taking the first step on the coaching ladder.

Neville has been working at Gigg Lane for the last six months with the Bury Under-15s as he studies for his UEFA C and B badges.

"I'm not ignorant enough to think that just because I've played at the top level for England I'll be a great coach or manager," said Neville whose family ties with Bury are well known.

"I'll have to work hard to get to the top level because great playing ability doesn't always mean that you'll automatically become a top coach.

"I'm privileged to be in a position where I can come back and help the players at the club because I was in their position not so long ago.

"I started watching Bury when I was about four or five years old when my dad got involved in the club.

"I stood on the Manchester Road End, and I used to go to every game home and away supporting the club for many years."

Neville, whose mum Jill is the Bury secretary, returned to Gigg Lane last week to hand out prizes to youngsters from the club's thriving Centre of Excellence.

"I try to get down as often as I can depending on my commitments," added the Reds star.

"Sometimes that may be twice a week, at other times I may go nearly a month without being able to come down.

"But Bury have been very kind to me and I'm very thankful for that. If I'm to go into coaching when I end my career then I'll need my badges, so I'm using my spare time to come down and work towards those.

"The lads I coach are at an age where there's lots of issues and influences on them in society. And I'd like to think that by coaching them and giving them advice the way we do, we can use football to help them in the right direction."

Gary admits he too is learning from the coaches at Gigg Lane as he looks to improve his own skills.

He added: "Bert (Iannoccone) has been excellent with me. He's allowed me to get on with the coaching, but has always been on hand to give me important information and advice.

"I think that you do start to look at football differently once you start coaching. It gets you thinking about all different parts of the game.

"I've worked with some great coaches, and I've started to think back to some of their sessions over the years to see what I can pick up from them."